5 Health Benefits Of Spending Time Outdoors

There's nothing like a big breath of fresh air to make you clear your head and feel new again. OK, maybe it takes a couple of breaths but there's no denying that re-energizing feeling the great outdoors gives you. But if this is true, why do so many people spend the majority of their time inside in front of the television or computer screen when they could simply walk outside and be in it themselves?

As it turns out, going outdoors doesn't just make you feel all healthy and new, it actually can make you healthy and new - and there's research to prove it. The National Wildlife Federation pinpointed that activity in nature is basically a full body detox as it improves the mind, body and spirit. Check out these five facts that will have you heading out the door in no time:

1. Benefiting From The Color Green
A study conducted by the University of Essex found positive effects associated with outdoor activity that they dubbed "green exercise." The research sought to uncover the impact that the natural color green had on exercise output. Researchers put participants on bikes in front screens projecting either green, gray or red images. As it turned out, the green hue of trees, grass and other plants made cyclists perform better. Something about the natural colors had a psychological impact on them, making their mood more even throughout their exercise.

2. Soak Up That Vitamin D
The NWF explained that spending more time outdoors exposes your body to the natural source of vitamin D. As you may know, this vitamin fortifies bones to help against breaks, heart disease and diabetes among other health conditions.

3. Fresh Air Is Just Like Caffeine
If you find that you're feeling a little sleepy and don't know why, head outside. The Huffington Post reported that just 20 minutes is enough to give you the same jump that a cup of coffee can.

4. Acts As A Natural Relaxant
The University of Michigan's Departments of Psychology, Industrial and Operations Engineering, and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science published research that suggested being outside gives your brain a rest from over-stimulation. This in turn acts as a memory care treatment because it helps restore your attention levels, allowing you to focus on tasks at hand. So the next time you're practicing your brain training exercises and you're feeling overwhelmed, just step out side and relax for a little.

The Huffington Post also pointed out that research found that simple exercises such as going for a walk help with creative thinking.

5. Combat The PTSD Of The Winter Blues
It was just a few months ago when the winter had you cooped up in your home making you feel as if there was no end to the bad weather in sight. But now that it's nice out again, there should be nothing stopping you from getting out there and making the most of the warmth while you can. The NWF also stated that nature makes people nicer. It enhances social interactions by exposing you to the community and forming new and closer relationships.